Jones, Philip

Name of Researcher / Enw’r ymchwylydd: Geoffrey Alexander Mitchell.
Name of Memorial / Enw’r gofeb: Greenfield War Memorial.
Regiment/Catrawd: ‘B’ Company. 16th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Service Rank and Number / Rheng gwasanaeth a rhif: Lance Serjeant 36845
Military Cemetery/Memorial / Fynwent milwrol: Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme.
Ref No Grave or Memorial / Rhif cyfeirnod bedd: Plot: 1V. Row: A. Grave: 38.
Country of Cemetery or Memorial / Gwlad y fynwent neu gofeb: France
Medals Awarded / Medalau a ddyfarnwyd: Victory Medal, British War Medal
Date of Death / Dyddiad Marwolaeth: 22 April 1918
Circumstances of Death / Dyddiad ac amgylchiadau marwolaeth:
Killed in Action on Monday 22nd April 1918 aged 21 at the battle of Albert.
Commonwealth War Grave Certificate / Tystysgrif Bedd Rhyfel y GymanwladView certificate

Philip Jones was born in Holywell, Flintshire during 1897. He was the son of John and Martha Jones who lived at Rose Villa, Greenfield, Flintshire. Prior to joining the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Philip was employed as a Packer at John Summers Steelworks and lived at Ivy House, Greenfield.

The 1911 Census shows that the family lived at Ivy House, Greenfield, Flintshire. The head of the family was John Jones aged 53, who was employed as a General Labourer. His wife Martha Jones aged 51 and their 4 (four) children – Mary Jones aged 24, who worked at Grosvenor Paper Mill, Greenfield as a Paper Sorter. Jane Eunice Jones aged 19, Robert Jones aged 17, a Solicitors Clerk and Philip Jones aged 14. Also living with them at that time was their Grandson, Robert William Wynne aged 6 years.

On 15 November 1915 aged 18 he enlisted at Conwy, North Wales as a Private with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. His Short Service Records show that it was for the duration of the war. A copy of his Attestation Certificate can be viewed at Ancestry.co.uk. What is interesting to note is that the witness to his Attestation was James Ayer the father of Leonard Stuart Ayer who also appears on the Holywell War Memorial. James Ayer was the witness to a number of signatures of Flintshire men who joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at that time.

On 24 June 1916 Philip Jones embarked with the Battalion for France. He proved to be an exceptional soldier and soon reached the rank of Lance Sergeant

Following Philip’s death his personal possessions which were, photographs, a wallet, pocket book, small bible and a card were forwarded to his mother Martha Jones, which she received on 5 December 1918.

On 24 September 1918 a payment of £6.3s.0d was made by the War Office to Martha Jones, this being monies owed to her son Philip. On 5 December 1919, a further payment which is recorded as a War Gratuity of £12.0s.0d was also made to her.

He is also remembered on The North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales.

There is a Flintshire Roll of Honour card for Philip Jones at the County Archives Office, Hawarden.

Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension was begun in May 1916 and used until February 1917. In the early part of July 1916, it was used not only for burials from the field ambulances but also for the interment of many soldiers killed in action and brought back from the line. The extension was reopened from the end of March 1918 until September 1918 and used largely by the 38th (Welsh) Division.
Headstone of Lance Sergeant 36845 Phillip Jones grave in Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension. Photograph taken by Geoffrey Mitchell.

Flintshire War Memorials

Jones, Philip

Learn more about the other soldiers on the Greenfield Memorial